    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
    [December 14, 2004]
    [Pages 3071-3074]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom
    December 14, 2004

        The President. Good morning, and welcome to the White House.
    Laura and I are proud to have you all here today,
    especially our three honorees and their families and their friends.
        The Presidential Medal of Freedom is our Nation's highest civil
    award, given to men and women of exceptional merit, integrity, and
    achievement. Today this honor goes to three men who have played pivotal
    roles in great events and whose efforts have made our country more
    secure and advanced the cause of human liberty.
        George Tenet learned the value of hard
    work as a busboy in the 20th Century Diner, the family restaurant in
    Queens, New York. Between work and school and athletics, George always
    kept up with current events and world affairs, and that enthusiasm led
    him into public service.
        In Washington, George immersed himself
    in the field of intelligence work. After a long career in the
    legislative and executive branches of Government, George was tapped by
    President Bill Clinton to run the Agency
    he loved. His challenges at the CIA were many. George acted quickly and
    aggressively to rebuild the Agency's capabilities. He made the
    recruitment of new talent a top priority. Applications to join the
    Agency have now soared to more than 138,000 per year. Under George's
    leadership, the number of yearly graduates from the Clandestine Service
    Training Program have increased nearly sixfold. And just about every CIA
    officer can tell you a story about Director Tenet's hands-on style of
    management. He was often seen in the hallways, chewing on an unlit
    cigar--[laughter]--or showing up at their cafeteria table and talking
    shop.
        George and his wife, Stephanie, came to know the people of the CIA, and
    the people of the CIA came to know them as decent, caring people who
    love their country and love their family, especially their son, John
    Michael.
        Early in his tenure as DCI, George Tenet
    was one of the first to recognize and address the growing threat to
    America from radical terrorist networks. Immediately after the attacks
    of September the 11th, George was ready with a plan to strike back at Al
    Qaida and to topple the Taliban. CIA officers were on the ground in
    Afghanistan within days. Seasoned American intelligence officers, armed
    with laptop computers, Afghan clothes, and a visionary plan, rode
    horseback with the fighters of the Northern Alliance, identified key
    targets for our military, and helped to free a nation.

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        Since those weeks, CIA officers have remained on the hunt for Al
    Qaida killers. More than three-quarters of Al Qaida key members and
    associates have been killed or detained, and the majority were stopped
    as a result of CIA efforts. CIA officers were also among the first to
    enter the battle in Iraq, alongside their colleagues in uniform. In
    these years of challenge for our country, the men and women of the CIA
    have been on the frontlines of an urgent cause, and the whole Nation
    owes them our gratitude.
        George is rightly proud of the people of
    the Agency, and I have been proud to work with George. George has
    carried great authority without putting on airs, because he remembers
    his roots. There's still a lot of Queens in George Tenet. [Laughter] A
    colleague once said that ``George has the intellect of a scholar and the
    demeanor of a longshoreman.'' [Laughter] His tireless efforts have
    brought justice to America's enemies and greater security to the
    American people. And today we honor a fine public servant and patriot in
    George John Tenet.
        General Tommy Franks was raised in
    Midland, Texas. Nothing wrong with that. [Laughter] I didn't know him
    then, but Laura and he went to the same high
    school. In those days, some people in Midland wondered about Tommy's
    future. Sounds familiar. [Laughter] At a recent high school reunion,
    Tommy's old principal told the general, ``You weren't the brightest bulb
    in the socket,'' to which the general replied, ``Ain't this a great
    country?'' [Laughter]
        America rewards talent, intelligence, and hard work, and the career
    of Tommy Franks is living proof. Tommy
    dropped out of college after 2 years to enlist in the Army. He quickly
    rose to become an officer, graduating from Officer Candidate School with
    honors and beginning his ascent through the ranks. He went on to finish
    his degree and earn one more. And he made the best decision of his life
    when he asked a young lady named Cathy Carley
    to marry him.
        Tommy Franks served in Germany and
    Korea, at the Pentagon, and at the Army War College. He served in the
    Persian Gulf war. He served in Vietnam, where he was wounded twice. Yet
    his greatest challenges and his greatest service came after the attacks
    on September the 11th.
        As the commander of CENTCOM, Tommy Franks held responsibility for defending American interests in
    some of the most remote and difficult terrain in the world. It's a job
    that requires the toughness of a general, the foresight of a strategist,
    the tact of a diplomat, and the skill of a good manager. Tommy Franks
    led the forces that fought and won two wars in the defense of the
    world's security and helped liberate more than 50 million people from
    two of the worst tyrannies in the world.
        In Afghanistan, America and our allies, with a historically small
    force and a brilliant strategy, defeated the Taliban in just a few short
    weeks. The general likes to say that ``no plan ever survived the first
    contact with the enemy.'' But in Iraq, Tommy Franks' plan did. A force half the size of the force that won the
    Gulf war defeated Saddam Hussein's regime and
    reached Baghdad in less than a month, the fastest, longest armored
    advance in the history of America warfare.
        Today, the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are building a secure and
    permanent democratic future. One of the highest distinctions of history
    is to be called a liberator, and Tommy Franks will always carry that title.
        General, the American people thank you
    for your courage, your leadership, and your lifetime of service in the
    cause of freedom and security. To the lists of medals and honors and
    awards you have already earned, I am proud to add the Presidential Medal
    of Freedom.
        Jerry Bremer is a
    diplomat, a philanthropist, a businessman, and a fashion pioneer.
    [Laughter] Everyone knows the Bremer look--coat, dress shirt and tie,
    and

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    desert combat boots. [Laughter] Beyond the fashion statement, Jerry will
    be remembered for his superb work in laying the foundations of a new
    democracy in the Middle East.
        Jerry Bremer's life of
    service began in 1966, when he joined the Foreign Service. He was a
    special assistant to six different Secretaries of State and rose to
    become America's Ambassador to the Netherlands. In 1986, President
    Ronald Reagan appointed Jerry Ambassador-at-Large for Counterterrorism.
    Eventually, Speaker Hastert named him
    Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorism, and I chose him to
    serve on my Homeland Security Advisory Council.
        When America and our coalition needed a seasoned diplomat and a
    manager to help the people of Iraq emerge from decades of oppression, I
    knew where to turn. For 14 months, Jerry Bremer worked day and night, in
    difficult, dangerous conditions, to stabilize the country, to help its
    people rebuild, and to establish a political process that would lead to
    justice and liberty. The job was demanding, requiring personal courage,
    calmness under fire, and hundreds of decisions every day. Yet,
    Jerry not only rose to the
    challenge, he found time nearly every day to study the Arabic language.
        Jerry Bremer earned the
    respect and admiration of Iraqis and helped to assemble an exceptional
    group of Iraqi leaders for the Governing Council. With his help, these
    leaders drafted the Transitional Administrative Law, which charted the
    country's political future and established a bill of rights. In the
    final days of hammering out consensus on this landmark law, Jerry sat
    through day-long meetings, sometimes without ever speaking. His silence
    was essential to reassure Iraqis that the new law was entirely their
    own. Yet his presence was essential to reassure Iraqis of our
    coalition's steadfast commitment to their future and their success.
    Every political benchmark that the Iraqis set for themselves and that
    Jerry helped them meet was achieved on time or ahead of schedule,
    including the transfer of sovereignty that ended his tenure.
        Sometimes, Iraqi officials would express doubts that the day would
    ever come. Jerry would pick up
    a photo of his granddaughter and say, ``This is your guarantee I'm
    leaving.'' [Laughter]
        Jerry, I know your wife,
    Francie, and your children, Paul and Leila, and your
    granddaughter, Sophia, are really glad to have you back.
        When Jerry Bremer greeted
    visitors at his office in Baghdad, he always began, ``Welcome to free
    Iraq.'' Jerry, Iraq is free today, and you helped make it so. And a free
    Iraq will help make generations of Americans more secure. Our Nation
    will always be grateful to Ambassador Jerry Bremer and his good work.
        These three men symbolize the nobility of
    public service, the good character of our country, and the good
    influence of America on the world.
        Now it is my honor to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and
    I ask the military aide to read the citations.

    [At this point, Maj. Steven T. Fischer, USA, Army Military Aide to the
    President, read the citations, and the President presented the medals.]

        The President. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I now invite you for a reception here to honor our
    honorees.
        Congratulations.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:30 a.m. in the East Room at the White
    House.

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